Apparatus for counting and packing rings



Dec. 27, 1927.

A. F. THENER ET AL APPARATUS FOR COUNTING AND PACKING RINGS Filed June22. 192? 6 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 27, 1927.

A. F. THENEIQ ET AL APPARATUS FOR COUNTING AND PACKING RINGS- 6Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 22. 192' i3ec. 27,1927. 1,654,022

A. F. THENER ET AL.

APPARATUS FOR COUNTING AND PACKING RINGS FiledJune 22, 192'? 6Sheets-Sheet 3 5 Y W mmawhw flrroRA Ex Dec. 27, 1927. 1,654fl22 v A. F,THEINER ET AL APPARATUS FOR COUNTING AND PACKING muss Filed June 22.1927 6 Sheetsfiheen 4 HTTOBNJY Dec. 27, 1927.

1,654,022 A, F. THEZNER ET AL,

APPARATUS FOR COUNTING AND PACKING RINGS Filed June 22; 1927 6Sheets-Sheet 5 Dec. 27, 1927. 1,654,022

' A F THEENER ET AL,

APPARATUS FOR GOUNTING AND FAGKING RINGS Filed June 22, 1927- 6Si1ee'cs-Sheet 6 uli M/vavroas: A. f. TIL/KNEE.

ATTORN Elli Patented Dec. 27, 1927.

oinrno STATES PATENToFFICE.

lhis I] JOSEBH'M. KOUN'IZIiIAN, OF LOlJl'S, MISSOURI, ASSIGNORS SUPPLIESCOMPANY, MANUFACTURERS, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORA- Eli'lilClllilGift? I.

.ltlPPARATUS IEOR COUNTING AND PACKING RINGS.

Application filed June 22, 1927. Serial No. 200,719.

invention relates to apparatus for counting and packing rings such, forexainple, as rubber l'ruit jar rings which are termed by slicing arubber a long compact mass straight row. The counting pose of removingis for the pur- \TL'OHPS of rings from the row, each group consisting ofa predeteriuincd nuu'iber of rings.

, rings are usually with one dozen rings to a m l unti no can he used todivide 'l' successive groupi cacl twelve or any other d Une ohioct ot'the out can oer mull oil to the p l'll ill

iatic .iuachin ti rely inserted paper cartons or other containers.

1, .4; r'lUU Jill (in ihle ruins in such.

into the packs iuent preteii'sbi r lies 'Wli preii erabiy rings, so asleagues.

1 the pool 5' ac inven'luoi resi ecti to or sold in packages package,and the mechanism hereafter referred to he mass of rings into 1 groupconsisting of esired number of rings. invention is to produce an ewhereby this counting accurately and quickly accomplished. ect is toproduce a machine cups of rings are into packages, such as in conwiththis object attention is directed iii an cl en'ienn.

withdrawing" the iaiullinp; a group oi. flexa :luunner that all of thecan be quickly jii'isert only slightly Wider group of rings.

means to sup th ed into a package the Width of the The inventionincludes sort and confine the rings while was n to the naclraees and inl.i m 7 positively force the ilhe inserting ele- :hin the rings, and itenters the packages with the to positively iorce them into thelflowevcr, this involves the neccsinserting element In the preferredform the inserting element lies llllll'lfifilill'clt' hclow thering-support which does not enter the packages, and after in.-

serltin r the lower port inseiiiim element is element ions of the rings,the .hlted to lie lll'JO'Vi-B the The ring-support and inserting -wethen quic icy thus allowing: ti drop into the pee Withdrawn :lroni 1epartly inserted lrages.

tube to produce it rings arranged in a in sec Another object is toprevent displacement of the end ringin the mass, or row, from which thegroups are'WithdraWn. group of rings picked from the row devicepreferably iollows thegroup for a slight distance so to lie in the pathof the ring left at the end of the row.

A further object to produce an i111 proved moans :tor feeding the row ofrings to the counting elements which remove the groups from the row.

liith the :loregoing and other objects in view, the invention comprisesthe novel con,- st'ruction, combination andarrangement of partsheicinaltcr more specifically described and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, wherein shown the preferred embodiment oi? theinvention. However, it is to be understood that the inventioncon'iprehends changes, variations and n'iodiiications which come withinthe scope oi the claims hereunto appended.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an apparatus embodying the features ofthis invention, some of the parts hcinp; in section on the line 1-l inFig. 6.

Fig. 2. is a top View shown by Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a top view, on a larger scale, showing one end portion oi thetrough which supports the stock oi. rings, and also showing; theermntiue, elements adjacent to the trough.

Fin; -l is a side elevation of the llpllzll'illi'ljls showing; the sideopposite to that shown by Fig. 1, some of the parts being: in section onthe line -l-l in Fig. 6.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged s de elevation showing one end oi? the trench andthe counting elements adjacent to said end.

Fig. 6 is a lront elevatioi'i of the appaa stop oi the apparatus i is anenlarged side elevation, partly tron, showing the (IliFiCilfll'flG endof the trough and counting elements adjacent thereto,

Fig. 8 is a top View of the discharge end of the trough showing a stopmember adapted to engage the end of the row of rings.

Fig. 9 is a front view of the device shown by Fig. 8, showing the holethrough which the rings are discharged, and the stop member at the upperportion of the hole.

Fig. 10 is a side elevation, partly in section, showing the countingelements and inserting elements as they appear when withdrawn from therings in the package, and latter, being shown by dotted lines.

Fig. 11 is a bottom View showing the inserting element in the form of awing pivoted to the counting element.

Fig. 12 is a detail view of the inserting element.

Fig. 13 is an end view showing the in- I sertingelement pivoted to acounting element, the inserting element being elevated relative to saidcounting element to prevent an unobstructed space for the rings, one ofthe rings. being shownby dot and dash lines.

Fig. 14 is a view similar to Fig. 13, showing the inserting element inalower position where itmay contact with the lower portion of the rings.

Fig. 15 is a vertical section on the line 1515 in Fig. 17, showing theparts in the positions illustrated by Figs. 14: and 17.

Fig.16 isa section taken approximately on the line 16-16 in Fig. 1 1. I

Fig. 17 is a side elevation of the counting element and insertingelement, showing the lower portions of the rings inserted into a carton.I

Fig.18 is a side elevation of a portion of the trough which supports thestock of rings to be counted and packed. I

Fig. 19 is an end view of the parts shown in Fig.18. f

Fig. 20 is a'section approximately on the line-20-2O in Fig. 18.

Fig.21 is a section showing portions of the means for lifting anddropping a'feed bar at the bottom of the trough.

Fig. 22 is a section showing a lever whereby the feed bar isreeiproeated.

Fig. 23is a view showing the-feed bar in its elevated position.

Briefly stated, the apparatus shown by the drawings comprises ahorizontal trough holding the stock of rings to be counted and packed,counting elements adapted to receive the end portion of the stoclnand afeeder lo cated'at the trough to feed the stock to, the countingelements. One of the counting elements lies inside of the group ofcounted rings, and this counting element is carried downwardly *to apoint above the package which receives the counted rings. The insertingelement then enters the package with v the lower portions of tivelydeliver the rings to the package, and

the rin gs o, so as to posimembers 1 as shown in Fig. 19, but the feedbar 2 can be lifted and moved longitudinally to advance the stock ofrings, and then lowered and returned to its starting position.

The means for actuating the feed bar comprises vertically movable bars 1(Figures 18, 19 and 21) provided with anti-friction rolls 5 at theirupper and lower ends, and rotary cams 6 engaging the lower rolls, eachof said cams being fixed to a rotary shaft 7 Each vertical bar 1 ismounted in a stationary guide 8 as shown in Fig. 21. The shafts 7 aredriven by mechanism hereafter described, so as to rotate the cams 6,thereby lifting and dropping the feed bar 2. The means for impartinglongitudinal motion to the feed bar comprises rotary shafts 9 (Figures1, 20 and 22), each of said Shafts being provided with a cam oreccentric 10 located in the forked end of a bell-crank lever 11 (Figures20 and 22), iulcrumed at 12 and loosely connected at the feed bar bymeans of a slot and pin connection shown at 13 in Fig. 22. The levers 11are oscillated to impart longitudinal motion to feed bar 2. \Vhen thebar is elevated, it is moved toward the counting device which will behereafter described, so as to advance the stock of rings, and the bar isthen lowered and returned to its starting position.

The end wall of the trough is formed by a flat spacing member 14(Figures 6, 9 and 10) provided with a hole 15 through which the ringsare discharged to the counting elements.

The counting device includes a ring-support 16 adapted to be alined withthe trough, as shown in Fig. 1, so as to receive the rings dischargedthrough the spacing member 1 1. This ring-support is movable downwardlyto deposit the rings into the can ton 17, as suggested in Figures 7 and1,7. The means for moving the ring-support will be hereafter described.

In addition to the ring-support 16 the counting device includes anabutment, or spacing member, 18 mounted on the ringsupport so to engageone end of the stock of rings which are fed onto said support 16. Thissupport 16 extends from the abutment 18. and its extended portions areapproximately equal to the thickness of a group of counted rings. Thisis suggested by Fig. 17 where the rings are shown at A. Vhen thering-support is elevated to receive the rings, its end face liesadjacent to the spacing int) i if) lid member 14 as shown in Fig. 14,and the spacing member 1 1 then cooperates with the abutment 18 tolimitthe space fort-he rings to be counted. rings A (Fig. is fed throughthe spacing ineinber lj and onto the support 16 while abutment lSdimitsthe motion of the stock, and the space between this. alnrtniei'it 1.8and the spacing member 1 1 is approximately equal to the thickness ofthe counted rings. Assuming, for example, that each ring is one eighthof an inch thick and that it is desired to have twelve rings in eachgroup, the space between the abutment 18 and the spacing n'ieinber 1 1.would then be approximately one and one half inches (1%).

The ring-support 161's surrounded by the groupof counted. rings A,assuggestedby Figures 13, 1 1 and 17, and since this group of ringsisconfined betweenthe abutment 16 and the spacing member 11;, it will beap parent that said rings the stock by moving the ring-support 16.

The inserting device cooperates with the ring support to positivelyinsert the group of rings into the package 17 This inserting devicecomprises an inserting member in the form of awing 19 (Figs. 11 to 17)pivoted at to the ring-support and provided with an operating arm 21havinga slot to receive/a pin carried byfthe abutment 18. By means to behereafter described, abutment is oscillated on the ring-support 16 forthe purpose of moving the wing 19 on its pivotQO, said wing beingmovable from the position shown by Fig. 13 to the extended positionshown by Fig. 14. 23 designates a blade extending from one side iof thewing 19 (Figures 12, 1 1 and 17) carton. Thewing 19 lies within thecounted rings, but the blade 23 lies at one side of said rings, as shownin Fig- 17. j a

When the wing 19 is elevated, as shown in Fig.13, it does not in any wayinterfere with the delivery of the rings to the support 16, and saidwing occupiesthis position when the rings are fed onto the support 16.However, whenthe support 16. is moved downwardly to deliver the rings tothe pack: age, the wing 19 is acted upon by mechanism hereafterdescribed sition shown in Fig. 14: where it engages the lowerportions ofthe rings, thereby positively forcing said rings into the package, whilethe blade 23 lies atone side of the rings (Figure 17) to positivelylocate said side of the rings within the package.

At this time, the closure flap 17" lies at the opposite side of therings, while the upper portions of the rings are confined between theabutment 18 and the spacing me1nber 14. These conditions. as suggestedby Fig. 17 insure a proper delivery of tlierings to the package. i

In other words, the stock of y with the rings, said wing is can beseparated from p and cooperating with said wing to insert the ringsintothe I .1ts spring .ments reach their lowest so as to move to thepoBefore describing the details of construe tion, we will state that thereis a carrier to raise and lower the ring-support 16 to which theinserting wing 19 is pivoted, and that after-the wing 19 enters thepackage lifted about the axis of its pivot 20 so as to lie above thepackage, and the support 16 with the wing 19 is withdrawn from therings, thereby per niittingthe latter to drop into the package.

The carrier just referred to comprises a vertically movable bar 241slidably mounted in a stationary 1, 6, 7-and 10. head 26 at the Thiscarrier also includes a said haand he scribed. i

llheiring-support 16 is formed on one end of a neck Zontally in thehead26. The opposite end of said squarebar 28 (Figures 3 and 10) is providedwith an extension 29 slidable in a bearing 30 i which is. secured to thehead 26 asshown in Figures 3 and with the vertical slide bar 2 1. Thespring 32 surrounding the extension 29 engages a head 33 at the end ofsaid extension and tends to move the ring-support 16 and abutment 18 tothe left from the position shown by Figures 3 and 7. However, thismovement can be prevented by means of latch 3;.- engaging a pin 35 onthe square bar 2S,as shown in Fig. 7. The latch 3 1 is pivoted at 36 tothe head 26, shownin Fig. 7, and

a spring 3'7 yieldingly retains the latch in engagement with the pin 35.

It is to be understood that the latch 34 and 37 are carried by the head26 which moves downwardly with the vertical bar 24, and that the squarebar 28 which carried the IlIlg-SLIPIJOl'iJ 16 also moves downwardly withsaid bar 24.

34: is released. and the spring 32 then shifts the ring-support 16 andwing 19 to the left guide as shown in Figures upper end of the saidverti cal bar, and various elements supported by ad as willbe hereafterde--' p 2'? (Fig.16) extendingfrom one 1 end of a square bar 28 whichshdes horn secured to a frame member 31 I, so as to move verticallyWVhen these elepositions,the latch from the positions shown in Fig. 17,there by withdrawing the elements 16 and 19 from the rings.

The means for releasing the latch 34, from the pin 35 comprises a finger38 (Figs. 7 and 10) extending from the latch and adapted to strike astationary screw 39imme diately before the carrier reaches its lowestposition. F 7 shows that the finger 38 is in vertical alinen'ientwwiththe stationary screw 39, and F ig. 10 shows how the finger 38 cooperateswith the screw 39 to release the latch from the pin 35.

Immediately after the latch 34 is released, the carrier including thevertical bar 24: moves upwardly in a straight vertical line and a roll40. (Fig. 10) on the bar 28 travels along a stationary ca1n41 with theresult of restoring thepin to the latch 34, thereby shifting thering-supportdti to the right from the position shown in Fig. 10, so whensaid support reaches .its elevated position it lies, adjacent to thespacing member 14. V

-.In' other words, the ring-support 16' receives the rings while saidsupport lies ad- Qjacent to spacing member 14, and the sup- 10 port 16'then movesdownwardly in a straight vertical line to locate the rings inthe package 17 WVhen the "ring-support 16 reaches itslowest-position,the latch 34 is released rand-the spring32 then moves said support tothe left, locating it in the position shown by. Fig.-10. ,As the carrierrisesthe roll cooperates with the stationary cam 41 to-restore-thering-support16 to its ring-receiving position, at which time the latch34 is engaged with the'pin 35.

We will now refer tothe means whereby the inserting wing 19 is movedupwardly and V downwardly relativetothe ring-support 16.

Briefly. stated this is accomplished by oscillatingthe abutment18. onthe ring-support 'of its ends extended into the abutment 18,

the opposite end being extended into the squarebar 28. The means forturning said abutment 18 in the opposite direction comprises astationary finger 43 (Figures 6, 7,

13 and l4) adapted to engage ashoulder 44 on the abutment member 18.'After'the .lower portions of. the rings A have been inserted intothe-package, the abutment 44 strikes the stationaryfinger 43, as shownin Fig. 14, and a continued downward motion of the ring holder16 willcause the abutment 18 to turn on said ring. holder, thereby lifting theinsertingv [wing 1.9 and its blade 23 from the package. Fig. 13illustrates the position of thewing 19 at the end of this liftingoperation;

It is to be understood that the spring 42 tends to retain the wing 19 inits extended position shown by Figures 14 and 17,'so when the abutment18 is turned to lift the wing, some means must be provided to re-' tainsaid wing in its elevated position. To

illustrate this feature we have shown a finger 45 extending from thehead 26 which moves upwardly and downwardly with the verticalbar 24. Thefinger .45 is shown by .full lines in Fig. 10 and by dotted line; in

Fig. 13. The abutment 18 has a shoulder 46 adapted to engage said finger45 to prevent displacement of the spring-actuated wing 19.

To understand the manner in which the shoulder 46-reaches the finger 45,it should be borne in mind that during one of the downward travels ofthe carrier, the shoulder 44 engages the stationary finger 43 for thepurpose of lifting the wing 19 to the position shown in Fig. 13, and atthis time, the ringsupport 16 and abutment 18 are withdrawn from therings by the action of spring 32, which shifts the elements 16 and 18 tothe positions shown in Fig. 10, thereby locating the shoulder 46 at oneside of the rigid linger 25, as shown in Figures 10 and 13.

However, as the carrier moves upwardly, the ring-support 16 and abutment18 are moved to the right from the position shown in Fig. 10, thismovement being obtained by the action of roller 40 on the stationary cam41, and it causes the abutment 46 to pass entirely-beyond the extendedend of the holding finger 45, therefore, another retaining device isemployed to prevent release of the spring-actuated member 18 during theupward travel of the carrier.

This other retaining device comprises bar 47 pivoted at 48 adapted toengage a pin 49 on the abutment- 18, as shown in Figures 3 and 5.

When the action of roller 40 and cam 41 releases the shoulder 46 fromfinger 45, the pin'49 lies atone side of the extended end of bar 47, andsaid end and pin 49 then cooperate with each other to prevent release ofthe spring-actuated abutment 18. Thereafter, while the carrier is movingdownwardly, the pin 49 passes from the bar 47 so as to release theabutment 18, thus allowing the spring 27 to shift the wing 19 to theposition shown by Figures 14 to 17.

The bar 47 is provided with an adjusting screw 50 which appears inFigures 3, 5 and 10. As the carrier moves upwardly, the head 26 strikesthe screw 50 (Fig. 5) thereby causing the bar 47 to move upwardl withthe carrier. Said bar 47 is thus retained in engagement with the pin 49during the final part ofthe upward motion. When the carrier beginsitsdownward movement, the bar 47 also moves downwardly until it is stoppedin the position shown by Fig. 10 by engaging a stationary part of theapparatus.

lVe will now refer to the stop device which engages the end ring of thestock in the trough when the counted rings are moving downwardly to thepackage. This stop device is shown in Figures 8, 9 and 10. It comprisesan arm 51 pivoted to the spacing member 14, and stop-blade 52 extendingfrom said arm, and a spring 53 tending to force the arm downwardlythereby tending toretain the blade 52 at the end of the stock from whichcounted rings are removed. A pin 54 extends from the arm 51, as shown inFigures 5, 7, 8 and 10. The extended end of this pin 54 has a head whichlies in the path of the abutment 18, and when the carrier movesupwardly, this abutment elements will be briefly reviewed as follows.

-When the carrier is in highest position, the inserting wing 19 iselevated to permit free delivery of the rings to the ring-holder 16. Atthis time the wing 19 is held by the pin 49 cooperating with the bar 47,and the latch 34 then cooperates with the pin After the rings aredelivered to the ringholder 16, the carrier moves downwardly and. thepin l9 passes from the. bar there by. releasing the spring-actuatedabutment 18, and permitting the spring 42 to turn s d abutment for thepurpose of shifting the inserting wing- 19 to the extended positionshown in Fig. lt. The lower portions of therings are inserted into thepaclrage as shown in Fig. 17, while the wing 19 ex tends downwardly toenter the package with ill] till the rings. As this downward movement ofthe carrier is continued, the wing 19 is lifted while the shoulder i tstrikes the stationaiw finger 4L3 as suggested in Figures 13 and l t.

The latch 34: (Fig. 7) is released by the cooperation of finger 38 andstationary screw 39, and the spring 32 then withdraws the ring-holder 16and inserting wing 19 from therings. Shoulder 416 on abutment 18 thencooperates with finger lo to prevent down ward displacement of the wing19. As the carrier moves upwardly the ring-holder 16 andabutment 18 areshifted through the medium of cam 41 and roll 40, and this releases theshoulder 46 from the finger 15, but the pin 49 then engages the bar {L7to preventrelease of the inserting wing 19. The cycle 01 operations isthen repeated.

The packages 17 may be of any desired form and they may be handled inany de. sired manner. However, it is desirable to cause the packages totravel near the count- .ing and inserting elements, and said packagesmay be arranged in holders (Fig. 6) pivotally connectedtogether at 56and adapt ed to travel between guide bars 57.

The driving mechanism maybe of any suitable type, and to illustrate.this feature we have shown a power shaft 60 (Fig. 1 provided with a gearwheel 61 meshing with. a gear 62 having" a crank pinv 63 extending intoa slot in a lever 64 which is connected to the vertical bar25 for thepurpose of releasingand lowering the carrier.

The means for operating the feeding elements at the trough comprisesgear wheels 65 on the cam shafts 7 and gear wheels 66 on the shatters. 1These gear wheels 65 and 66 are driven through the medium or gear wheelsill on a long shaft 38 provided with a sprocket wheel as (Fig. 1)receiving a F-JPL'OChZBl? chain throi'lgh which power is transn'iittcdfrom a sprocket wheel 70 on a shaxtt 71, the latter having a gear (9 drivcn by a gear '73 on the power shatt 60.

l'i' hile the packages 17 are recev dug the rings, the closure tla s17on. said packages are held by cngag'.. the lower margin of theseparating members 14h as shown in F igures 7 and 17, and this operatingmember 1a may be provided with a curved extrusion as shown in Figures 2and 8, for the purpose oi deflecting the flaps to the desired position.

We claim:

1. In an apparatus for counting rings, a holder for the stock of ringsto be counted. 21. transferring device including a counting memberadapted to lie within the counted rings, said transferring device beingprovided. with an abutment limiting the space for rings on said countingmembeig means whereby said transferring device is moved from a receivinposition opposite said hold or to a discharge position. beyond saidholder, and means whereby the stock oi rings intcri'nittently ted fromsaid holder to said counting member.

5:3. In. an ZLPptU'flt-US for counting rings, a holder for the stock ofrings to be counted, at transferring device including a counting memberadapted to lie within the counted rings, said transferring device beingpro vided. with an abutment limiting the space tor rings on saidcounting member, means counting member adapted to lie within the countedrings. an abutment on said. counting member limiting the space tor ringson said member and a vertically movable carrier in which said countingmember is slidably mounted, said carrier being movable from y areceiving position, wherein said counting,

member is dined with. said trough, to a discharge position below dreceivingpositiom means whereby said. counting member 15 withdrawn fromthe rings when the carrier occupiessaid discharge position, and. meanswhereby the rings to be counted are fed. from said troughto saidcounting member after the carrier reaches said receiving positlUl'lr Inan apparatus for enantiagiand past Ian ing rings, a holder for the stockof rings to be counted and packed, a transferring de vice movable froma'receiving position at said holder to a delivery position at thepackages which receive the counted rings,

said transferring device including a counting elementreceiving the ringsfrom said holder and an inserting element whereby the' rings are forcediiito the packages, said inserting element being movable relative tosaid counting element so as to move into and out of the packages.

', 6. In an apparatus for counting and packing rings, a. holder for thestock of'rings to be counted and packed, a transferring device movablefrom a receiving position at said holder to a dGllVQIYpOSltlOIl at thepackages which receive the counted rings, saidtrans- .ferring deviceincluding a counting element receiving the rings from said holder and aninserting element whereby the rings are forced into the packages, saidcounting element and inserting element being adapted to lie within thecounted rings, said inserting element being below the counting elementso as to force the rings into the packages, and means whereby saidinserting element is moved upwardly relative to said counting element soas topassout of the packages.

7. In an apparatus forcounting and packing'rings," a holder for thestock ofrings to be packed a countingelenient receiving the rings fromsaid holder, an inserting element below said counting element to forcethe rings into the packages, both of said elenients being adapted to liewithin the countedrings, a carrier whereby the inserting element and thelower portions of the rings are located withinthe packages while thecounting element'is above the packages, saidi'nserting element beingmovable upwardly relativeto said counting elementso as to pass outof thepackages, and means whereby said elements are withdrawn from therings'at the packages.

8. In an apparatus for packing rings, a holder for the stock of rings tobe packed, and a transferring device receiving the rings from saidholder, said transferring device being movable from areceiving positionat said holder to a delivery position at the packages which receive therings, said transferring device including, an inserting ele ment wherebythe rings are positively'inserted into the packages.

9. In' an apparatus for packing rings, a holder for the stock of ringsto be packed, and a transferring device receiving the rings from saidholder, said transferring device being movable from a receiving positionat said holder to a delivery position at the packages which receive therings, said trans ferring device including an inserting element wherebythe rings are positively inserted into the packages, said inserting element being adapted to occupy an extended position Within the rings so asto enter the packages with the rings, and said inserting element beingmovable upwardly from said extended position so as to pass out of thepackages.

10. In an apparatus for packing rings, a holder for the stock of ringsto be packed, and a transferring device receivin the rings from saidholder, said transferring device being movable from a receiving positionat said holder to a delivery position at the packages which receive therings, said transferring device including an inserting element wherebythe rings are positively inserted into the packages and a ring-supportabove said inserting element, said ring-support and inserting elementbeing adapted to lie within the rings, said inserting element beingextended downwardly from said ringsupport to enter the packages with therings, means whereby said inserting element is moved upwardly relativeto said ring support so as to pass out of the packages, and

means whereby said support and inserting element are withdrawn from therin s.

11. In an apparatus for packing rings, a holder for the stock of ringsto be packed, and a transferring device receiving the rings from saidholder, said transferring device being movable from a receiving positionat said holder to a delivery position at the packages which receive therings, said transferring device including an inserting element wherebythe rings are positively inserted into the packages, said insertingelement including a member adapted to lie within the lower portions ofthe rings and an extension adapted to engage one side of the rings.

12'. In an apparatus for packing rings, a holder for the stock of ringsto be packed. and a transferring device receiving the rings from saidholder, said transferring device being movable from areceiving positionat said holder to a delivery position at the packages which receive therings said transferring device including an inserting element wherebythe rings are positively inserted into the packages, said insertingelement including a member adapted to lie within the lower portions ofthe rings and an extension adapted to engage one side of the rings, saidmember and its extension being adapted to enter the packages with therings, and means Inn tih

whereby said member and extension are moved upwardly topass outot thepackages. In an apparatus for packing rings, a holder for the stock ofrings to be packed, and a transferring device receiving the rings fromsaid holder, said transferring device beingmovable from a receivingposition at said holder to a delivery position at the packages whichreceive the rings, said transferring device including an insertingelement whereby the rings are positively insorted into the packages, anda ring-support above said inserting element, said ring-support andinserting element being adapted to lie within the rings, the insertingelement being in the form of a wing adapted to enter the packages and ablade extending from one side of said wing to engage one side oi? therings, means whereby said wing and blade are moved upwardly relative tosaid ring-support so as to pass out of the packages, and means wherebysaid ring sttppol't, wing and blade are withdrawn from the rings.

14. In an apparatus for counting and packing rings, a trough holding thestock of rungs to be counted and packed, a counting device comprising anabutment and a ringsu pport extending therefrom, means whereby the stockoi. rings is fed from said trough to said abutment, the abutment beingadaptcd to engage one end of the stock of rings and the ring-supportbeing adapted to lie within the rings, the extended portion. of saidringsupport being approximately equal in length to the thickness of thecounted rings, a spacing member at the dischargeen d of said troughfacing said abutment to limit the space for rings between said abutmentand the discharge end of the trough, an inserting device comprising awing extending from said ring-support and adapted to lie within thecounted rings, a carrier whereby said abutment and ring-support aremoved to insert the rings into the packages, said wing being adapted toenter the packages with the rings, means cooperating with said carrierto remove the wing from the pack ages, and means whereby said wing andringsupport are withdrawn from the rings.

15. In an apparatus for counting and packing rings, a trough holding thestock of rings to be counted and packed, a counting device comprising anabutment and a ring support extending therefrom, means whereby the stockof rings is fed from said trough to said abutment, the abutment beingadapted to engage one end of the stock of rings and the ring-supportbeing adapted to lie within the rings, the extended portion of saidring-support being approximately equal in length to the thickness of thecounted rings, a spacing member at the discharge end of said troughfacing said abutment to limit the space for rings between said abutmentand the discharge end of the trough, an inserting device comprising awingextgjnd ing from said ring-support and adapted to lie within thecounted rings, said wing being pivoted to maid. ring-:mpport andprovided with a blade adapted to engage one side of the counted rings,said abutment beiiigino'vable relative to said ring-support and. o)erativcly connected to said wing so as to move the wing upwardly anddownwardly relative to said ring-support, a carrier whereby saidabutment and ring-support are moved downwardly to insert the rings intothe packages, said wing and blade being adapted to enter the packageswith the rings, a stop cooperating with said abutment to remove the wingand blade from the packages, a spring whereby said ring-support, wingand blade are withdrawn from the rings, a latch device preventingdisplacement of said wing relative to said ring-support, and a trippingdevice whereby said latch device is released after the counted rings arelocated on said ring-support.

16. In an apparatus for counting rings, a holder for the stock of ringsto be counted, means whercltiy the rings are fed toward one end of saidholder, a counting device receiving the rings from said end of theholder, said counting device including spaceit'orming members providinga space approximately equal to the thickness of the group of countedrings, one of said members being movable to remove the counted ringsfrom said holder for the stock of rings, a stop member arranged at theother space forming member to engage the end oi the stock from which thecounted rings are removed, and means tor moving said stop member intoand out of the path of the stock.v

17. In an apparatus for counting rings, a holdertlfor the stock of ringsto be counted, means whereby the rings are fed toward one end of saidholder, a counting device receiving the rings from said end of theholder, said counting device including space-forming members providing aspace approximately equal to the thickness of the group of counted.rings, a carrier whereby one of said spams-forming members is moved toremove the counted rings from, said holder for the stock of rings, astop member arranged at the other space-forming member to engage the endof the stock from which the counted rings are removed, and meanscooperating with said carrier to move said stop member into the path ofthe stock when the carrier moves away from the stock.

18. In an apparatus for counting rings, a holder for the stock of ringsto be counted, means whereby the rings are fed toward one end of saidholder, a counting device receiving the rings from said end of theholder, said counting device including space-form ing members providinga space approximate 1y equal to the thickness of the group of countedrings, a carrier whereby one of said 7 space-formingmembers is moved toremove the counted rings from the holder for the member and a, bladeextending from said arm, a spring actlng onsald arm and tendlng toretain said blade at the end of the stock from which the counted ringsare removed, 10

said arm having an extension engaged by said carrier to remove saidblade from the path of the stock of rings.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing We hereunto afiix oursignatures.

ARTHUR F. THENER. JOSEPH M. KOUN'IZMAN.

